Method and apparatus for hitting a ball

ABSTRACT

A hitting apparatus is provided, including a supporting unit, at least a linking unit, and an attaching device. The apparatus includes foldable supporting legs, an adjustable supporting rod, an adjustable hanging arm, an adjustable extension arm, attaching rods or strings, and attaching ball hook/loop, magnets or adhesives. The hanging arm is engaged to the top of supporting rod, and adjustable in length and angles and easy to be detached from the support rod to become an individual hitting training apparatus. The attaching parts of hook/loop, magnets or adhesive hold the ball with attaching loop or metal tape or coating. With the holding of the ball by the hook/loop, magnet or adhesives, the present invention can be a tee free design to enhance the focus of the batter on the ball and have a clear hit on the ball. The present invention is easy to assemble, adjust, use, carry around and store.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a hitting apparatus, and more specifically to an apparatus using hook and loop, magnet or adhesive to hold the ball for hitting practice.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Devices for aiding in the training of a ball hitting swing are generally known in the art. There are a variety of batting apparatus for batting practice. The conventional batting apparatus is usually designed as a vertically standing position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,838 discloses a batting baseball tee. U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,124 discloses an automatic batting tee apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,175 discloses a batting tee with brush fiber holding and a swing guide. U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,445 discloses a durable batting tee with rubber holding material.

These types of batting apparatus only provides some degree of batting practice. Although the practice may be useful in some aspects, the hitting is not freely. When ball is hit, the angle of the hitting, resistance between the ball and ball holder will affect the spin and trajectory of the ball. It is not very easy for batter to get a clear hit without the bat touching any parts of the holder. This will reduce the hitting strength on the ball. It is also very difficulty for batter to hit the ball in right angle and make it fly out from batting apparatus in right spinning and angle.

Therefore, the present invention provides a hitting apparatus to enable the batter to practice hitting the ball almost freely in various manners such as hitting angle and ball spinning to improve the hitting skills and strength. The swing bat will not touch the attaching part and detaching force between attaching part and ball will be minimum. Batter will focus on hitting ball in full strength not worry about to hit the attaching parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a hitting apparatus, and more specifically to an apparatus using adjustable supporting rod, hanging arm, extension arm, and attaching parts such as hook/loop, magnets or adhesive to hold the ball for hitting practice.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a hitting apparatus using a hook/loop, magnet or adhesive including pressure sensitive adhesive or Gecko like adhesive hanging a ball for the batter to hit. To hanging the ball, a small area of loops (prefer) or hook or magnet metal part need to be attached to the ball by pressure sensitive adhesive, the attaching part on ball could be removable and replaceable. The area can be as small as 0.2 in² with different shape and colors. The ball can be connected and hanged by applying adhesive to connect part. The ball with the loops or metal tape or coating as well as hanging the ball by adhesives will have minimum effect on the ball handling and ball trajectory and spinning.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hitting apparatus to enhance the focus of the batter on ball without worrying about hitting the holder or other attaching parts. Therefore batter can use full strength and hit the ball in right angle and pull the ball in proper directions. The hitting is almost freely comparing with conventional batting apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hitting apparatus for batter easy assemble, adjust, use, carry around and store. The apparatus includes foldable supporting legs with a screw can adjust height, a supporting rod with length adjustment, a hanging adjustable arm, an adjustable extension arm for 360 degree free adjustment, few attaching rods, string with connection from hook/loop, adhesive or magnets. The hanging arm is engaged to the top of the supporting rod, and adjustable in length and angles and easy to detach from the support rod to become an individual hitting training apparatus when a trainer can hold the hanging arm for batter to hit the ball. As the main supporting rod, hanging arm, extension arm and attaching rods, strip or string are adjustable, the apparatus is easy to use, adjustable and portable. It can be carried in a bag for storage and traveling easily.

Foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a careful reading of a detailed description provided herein below with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be understood in more detail by reading the subsequent detailed description in accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the present invention. A batting apparatus of the present invention includes a supporting leg 1, base 2, support rod 3, hanging arm 6, extension arm 9, attaching rods 11, and attaching ball hook, magnets or adhesive 12 and ball 13.

Supporting rod 3 is fixed to base 2. The three supporting legs 1 are contacted to base 2 and can be folded for storage after use. By loosing joint 4, the support rod can be adjusted to different heights and rotated along vertical axis. The hanging arm 6 can be adjusted in length by joint 8. It connected with support rod 3 by joint 7. The hanging arm can be adjusted in different angle and rotated by adjusting joint 7. It can be easily detached from the support rod 3 to become an individual hitting training apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 where trainer can hold the apparatus by handle 5.

The adjustable extension arm 9 is made from the flexible tube connect with hanging arm 6 by screw. It can be easily adjust in any angles from which change the position of the hanging ball. The attaching rods 11 and ball 13 can be connected by attaching part such as hook/loop, magnets or adhesive 12. The connection is detachable. The number of attaching rods used can be determined by batter's hitting skills. The attaching mechanical hook 10 can be replaced by hook/loop, magnet or adhesive 12 if no attaching rod, or string used as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the present invention with two attaching strings 15 with connect part 14 and attaching part hook/loop, magnet or adhesive 12 and hanging arm 6 with different angle.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the present invention with the hanging arm detached from the support rod 3 and holding the ball by attaching part 12 without using attaching rod 11 or string 15. It becomes an individual hitting training apparatus.

The hitting apparatus described in current invention can be used not only for training of hitting baseball but also for hitting softball, waffle ball, tennis ball or the like.

Above-described preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative only and not limiting. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing descriptions. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. 

1-3. (canceled)
 4. A hitting apparatus is comprising: a. support unit including foldable support legs, an adjustable support rod, an adjustable hanging arm, b. a 360 degree adjustable extension arm, c. a connecting element comprising detachable rods and strips or string, and d. an attaching element comprising hook-and-loop material, magnet or adhesives to allow a minimum detaching force with a ball, which ensure almost freely hitting experience for a batter.
 5. The hitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said support rod further includes a screw at a top end of said support rod for removable attachment to other devices such as a camera, a video camera, a speed gun, and a lighting element.
 6. The hitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said adjustable hanging arm is removably attachable to said support rod, said adjustable hanging arm capable of attachment to various connecting elements such as rods, or strings so the apparatus forms a unitary apparatus which can be used for hitting training.
 7. The hitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said attaching rods, strings and ball are connected using one of a hook-and-loop material, a magnet, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or other adhesive such as Gecko like adhesive, wherein a detaching force can be adjustable depending on type of material, amount of material used or size of an attaching area.
 8. The hitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said attaching strings can be made from a hook-and-loop material in different shapes for releasable attachment to said ball.
 9. The hitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said attaching element on said ball can be detachably formed or unitary, which can be made from one of a hook-and-loop material, or a magnet.
 10. The hitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said support unit can be made from one of a metal, a polymer material or a composite material.
 11. The hitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said adjustable extension arm can be made from metal or polymer materials.
 12. The hitting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said connecting element can be made from metal cover with rubber, polymer material such as rubber, plastics or foam, wood, fiber or leather. 